Another World Metal Factory

Chapter 63

“Honestly…”

“Haa… This again…”

Channing delivered two noodle makers by Aspur cart.

Oscar and Chelline sighed as soon as they saw the noodle makers. They both knew instinctively that they were made because of Richel.

“I’ll just leave them here.”

“Channing. How about the payment for this…”

“Ah. The Factory Manager said to put it on credit. He said Richel is going to sell new dishes made with these at the upcoming festival. He said she’ll pay with the money she earns from that.”

Oscar sighed deeply.

“She’s been making strange things for days now, and she finally did it.”

“I’ll have to give her a piece of my mind when she comes later. What is all this?”

“Don’t be too hard on her. The new dish Richel made was quite delicious. I think it will sell well.”

Channing said as he climbed onto the cart. Hearing that, Chelline sighed again.

“A food stall in the plaza? She can’t even put tables there, and how will she wash the dishes?”

“You’re worried about the same thing as Richel. She said she’ll carve out hard bread and put the food inside so people can eat while walking around, so you don’t have to worry. Well then, I’ll be going.”

Channing started the Aspur.

“Honestly, who does she take after?”

“Who else but you… Ouch!”

Oscar was talking when he was slapped on the back and shut his mouth.

While Oscar and Chelline were preparing for the evening business, the door opened and Richel entered.

“I’m home.”

“Richel! How much trouble did you cause?!”

Chelline shouted as Richel entered the kitchen. Richel looked at her mother with wide eyes and a surprised expression.

“Don’t worry, Mom! This is the real deal!”

“You’re just causing trouble for others! Ordering strange things from the black-haired man! Honestly! You have to get married, how are you going to do that with this?!”

Richel frowned as Chelline got angry.

“Honestly! Why are you bringing up marriage again?!”

“Think about your age, you fool! You’re already 19! 19! Elma from the jewelry store is getting married soon too! But you… Ugh. We should have stopped you when you said you’d help us with the business. The old men keep saying you’re pretty, so you can’t get married and you’re like this…”

As Chelline’s nagging started to get longer, Richel suddenly felt irritated.

Trying to ignore it, Richel shouted without realizing it.

“I have a man to marry!”

Chelline shut her mouth and her eyes widened at the sudden remark.

At that moment, a crashing sound echoed. Oscar, who was organizing stainless steel plates next to them, was startled and dropped the plates.

“Wh… Who?! Which punk?!”

“Who is it? Someone we know?”

Richel was surprised by Oscar and Chelline’s sudden reaction. She had shouted impulsively in a moment of frustration, and now her mind went blank.

“Who is it? Who!”

“Ah… Well… That is…”

Chelline started to press her with sparkling eyes.

Richel started to sweat coldly. There was no way Richel had such a man.

As Richel hesitated, Oscar couldn’t stand it anymore and grabbed her shoulders, shouting.

“Channing! It’s not Channing, is it?! It’s not that elf, is it?!”

“Ah! Right! Channing!”

Richel, who shouted reflexively, was startled and covered her mouth again.

“Oh my oh my oh my! Channing?! Oh my goodness! When did you two become like that?!”

“An elf! An elf son-in-law is a no!”

“What are you talking about! Channing is fine! He’s handsome enough. And I heard the black-haired man pays him well! He’s much better than the apprentices at the other workshops!”

Richel, whose head had cooled down, realized that the situation was getting out of hand. The words she had shouted in frustration were starting to snowball.

Richel ran to her mother to try and salvage the situation.

“D… D… Don’t tell anyone! Really!”

“Why not?!”

“Ah! Just! Please! Don’t spread rumors!”

Chelline grinned and patted Richel’s shoulder.

“Alright. You’re so shy.”

Chelline said so, but Richel felt a pain in her chest.

Thinking that this situation would definitely turn into a rumor, Richel started to rack her brains on how to resolve it.

“Channing is… Channing is…”

Only Oscar, standing in the corner of the kitchen, was repeating those words with unfocused eyes.

***

The well was crowded with women washing clothes and drawing water during the day.

The women, who had put down their water buckets and were wiping their sweat in the shade, were busy chatting. Among the topics, marriage was a very good subject.

“So, have Elma and Kabert set a date?”

“It’s in the fall. They opposed it at first, but Kabert is quite skilled as a craftsman. They figured he wouldn’t starve, so they finally agreed.”

“Well, even though Kabert is the third son, he receives orders from nobles. If he does well, he could even open his own workshop.”

“That’s right. Sigh. Still, it’s a relief to get Elma married off before she turns 20. It’s hard to marry them off once they’re over 20.”

“That’s true. The daughter of the clothing store owner couldn’t get married until she was 24, and ended up marrying someone in another city. It’s better to marry them off nearby than far away.”

While the women were chatting.

Chelline was listening with a triumphant expression.

Another woman asked Chelline,

“By the way, Chelline, do you have some good news? You’ve been smiling since earlier.”

“Well… No. Nothing good.”

As Chelline waved her hand, the other women’s attention focused on her.

“Ah. You seem to have something good going on, just tell us. What’s the good news?”

“Come on. It’s written all over your face. Why are you being so secretive?”

As the other women gathered around Chelline and asked, Chelline grinned and slightly backed away.

“Ah. I wasn’t supposed to say this…”

“What is it! Come on, just tell us.”

“So, just tell us already. You’re going to tell us anyway.”

At the women’s urging, Chelline leaned forward slightly and whispered,

“It seems like I can finally marry off my daughter Richel.”

“Oh my oh my oh my!”

“Finally?! Oh my! You should have told us sooner! Which family’s son is it?”

The women exclaimed. The commotion attracted even the other women who were washing clothes or drawing water.

Seeing the crowd gathered, Chelline opened her mouth.

“You know the black-haired man’s workshop? Richel and Channing from there are seeing each other.”

“Oh my oh my! Channing, the elf? How did that happen! When did they become like that?”

“They’ve known each other for a long time. She always goes there to deliver lunch.”

The women started whispering to each other. Chelline grinned at the sight.

“But are they dating? Did Oscar not arrange it?”

“How scandalous. They must have been meeting secretly then.”

“What’s wrong with that in this day and age? It’s fine if they like each other. It’s not like our time when you had to marry whoever your parents told you to. Couples who marry because they like each other tend to live happier lives.”

The women started talking about such things, and the rumor quickly spread throughout the city.

***

The sound of hammering was coming from Popper’s blacksmith shop.

The door opened and unfamiliar guests entered. It was Oran and Tehez.

“Are you there?”

“What is it? The black-haired man’s wife? What brings you to our blacksmith shop?”

Popper, recognizing Oran, stopped hammering and approached.

Oran looked around the blacksmith shop.

“Wow. This is a wonderful blacksmith shop.”

“Haha. Thank you for saying so. So, what did you bring?”

Tehez unwrapped the object she was holding.

As the cloth-wrapped blade was revealed, Popper’s eyes widened and he received it.

“Wow. You’ve brought another wonderful piece.”

“I’m making a sword I was commissioned to make, and I wanted to hear an expert’s opinion.”

When Oran handed over the blade, Popper received it and examined it closely.

“The central part of the sword is made in the old way, and the blade is made of steel. Wow. This is truly a wonderful piece. Did the black-haired man make this?”

“I made it.”

Popper stared at Oran with wide eyes at her words.

“Wow… Your skills are even better. Well, it makes sense that the black-haired guy wouldn’t use such a labor-intensive method.”

Popper swung the blade a few times, carefully examining it with his eyes, and then handed it back to Oran.

“It’s a perfect sword. It’s so good that I’d have a hard time making it myself. However, it feels a little light and thin.”

“It’s a sword for a 16-year-old girl.”

“Ah. So… That makes sense.”

Popper nodded.

Meanwhile, someone entered the shop and, spotting Oran, spoke to her.

“Are you a customer?”

“Ah. The black-haired man’s wife.”

“Oh my. I thought he wasn’t married, but he has such a beautiful wife. Hello. I’m Sharzad, the blacksmith’s wife here.”

Oran smiled and nodded in response to the female dwarf who introduced herself as Sharzad.

“I’m Oran. I’m the wife of the Factory Manager across the street.”

“Please wait a moment. I’ll bring you some drinks.”

Sharzad went into the workshop.

Oran looked at Popper, who had started working again. Sparks flew every time he hammered powerfully with his muscular arms.

“Is that a spearhead?”

“Yes. I received an order for it.”

Popper replied, putting the spearhead back into the forge and moving the bellows to increase the fire.

Oran smiled as she watched the spearhead turn red hot again.

“I never thought I’d see such a scene.”

“Well, it’s just a common blacksmith shop. The black-haired guy said the same thing, and now his wife is fascinated too.”

While Popper was talking, Sharzad came back with wooden cups and handed them to Oran and Tehez, gesturing outside the workshop.

Oran and Tehez followed Sharzad.

“I just heard something interesting, so congratulations.”

“Yes?”

Oran was slightly surprised by Sharzad’s sudden words and asked back.

Sharzad grinned and whispered,

“You know Channing, the elf youth who works at that workshop? I heard he’s in a relationship with Richel from the Red Rooster.”

“What?!”

Tehez, who was standing next to her, asked back in surprise.

Sharzad grinned, glanced at Tehez, and said,

“I just heard it at the well. Chelline from the Red Rooster was saying that Richel and Channing are dating and will get married soon.”

“Wow. That’s news to me. Channing didn’t say anything.”

“That’s how men are. They never talk about such things.”

“Well, men don’t really consider such things important. Tehez, is this the first time you’re hearing this? You’re close with Richel and Channing, right?”

Oran asked, and Tehez shook her head with a slightly stiff expression.

“This is the first time I’m hearing about it.”

“How sneaky of them. They must have been meeting secretly, even from Tehez.”

Sharzad said, and Tehez forced a smile.

“Anyway, you said your name was Oran, right? Nice to meet you. I guess we’ll be seeing each other often.”

“Yes. I’ll be here for a while, so please take care of me.”

“Come to the well next time you have some free time. I’ll introduce you to the other wives. They almost always gather there during the day.”

Oran smiled and drank the slightly sour drink in the wooden cup.

“Well then, Tehez. Let’s go. We heard some interesting news, so let’s go tease Channing.”

“Ah… Yes…”

Tehez nodded at Oran’s words and handed the wooden cup back to Sharzad.